ENVIRONMENT

AND ECOLOGY

BIODIVERSITY

JAYAKRISHNA
BIODIVERSITY

S
IA
R A
IQ

JAYAKRISHNA
Contents
1. Basic concepts in Biodiversity
2. Types and Measurement of Biodiversity
3. Importance of Biodiversity
4. Threats to Biodiversity
5. Conservation techniques

S
1. Exsitu and Insitu
2. Sacred Grooves

IA
3. Protected Areas
4. National Parks
5. Wildlife Sanctuaries
6. Biosphere Reserves

A
7. Conservation and Community Reserves
6. Forest - Reserve and protected forest
R
village or panchayat forest
7. Biodiversity Hotspots & Hopespots
IQ
8. Bio Geographical zones of India
9. IUCN & CITES
10. Ramsar Convention on Wet lands
11. Biodiversity Conventions - CBD
12. Biodiversity & India
13. Miscellaneous
JAYAKRISHNA
Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources,
including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological
complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species,
between species, and of ecosystems.
Biodiversity is the foundation of ecosystem services to which human well-being
 is intimately linked. 

S
IA
R A
IQ

JAYAKRISHNA
Types of Biodiversity:
Biodiversity is of three types:

S
1. Species diversity
2. Genetic diversity

IA
3. Ecological diversity

Species Diversity:
Species diversity refers to biodiversity at the most basic level and is the ‘variety and

A
abundance of different types of individuals of a species in a given area’. 

Genetic Diversity:
R
varieties within the same species that differ from one another in shape, size, colour and taste
and seeds due to the variations at the genetic level. The term ‘gene pool’ has been used to
IQ
indicate the genetic diversity in the different species

Ecosystem Diversity:
 It refers to the variability among the species of plants and animals living together and
connected by flow of energy and cycling of nutrients in different ecosystems or ecological
complexes JAYAKRISHNA
Measurement of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is defined and measured as an attribute that has two
components — richness and evenness.

S
Richness = The number of groups of genetically or functionally
related individuals.

IA
In most vegetation surveys, richness is expressed as the number
of species and is usually called species richness.
Evenness = Proportions of species or functional groups present
R A
on a site.  The more equal species are in proportion to each other
the greater the evenness of the site.  A site with low evenness
indicates that a few species dominate the site.
IQ
Biodiversity is a measure that combines richness and evenness
across species. It is often measured because high biodiversity is
perceived a synonymous with ecosystem health. 
JAYAKRISHNA
Types of Measurements
Alpha Diversity
Richness and Evenness of individuals within a habitat
unit. For example in the figure below, Alpha Diversity of

S
Site A = 7 species, Site B = 5 species, Site C = 7 species.

IA
Beta Diversity 
Expression of diversity between habitats. In the example
below, the greatest Beta Diversity is observed between

A
Site A and C with 10 species that differ between them and
only 2 species in common. R
Gamma Diversity  
Landscape diversity or diversity of habitats within a
IQ
landscape or region. In this example, the gamma diversity is
3 habitats with 12 species total diversity.
                                                                                                                             

JAYAKRISHNA
 S
IA
R A
IQ
Site A = 7 Species A vs B = 8 species
Site B = 5 Species B vs C = 4 species
Site C = 7 Species A vs C = 10 species

JAYAKRISHNA
Importance of Biodiversity
Economic—biodiversity provides humans with raw materials for
consumption and production. Many livelihoods, such as those of
farmers, fishers and timber workers, are dependent on biodiversity.
Ecological life support—biodiversity provides functioning

S
ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of

IA
plants, pest control, wastewater treatment and
many ecosystem services.
Recreation—many recreational pursuits rely on our

A
unique biodiversity, such as bird watching, hiking, camping and
fishing. Our tourism industry also depends on biodiversity.
R
Cultural—The culture is closely connected to biodiversity through
IQ
the expression of identity, through spirituality and through aesthetic
appreciation. Indigenous people have strong connections and
obligations to biodiversity arising from spiritual beliefs about
animals and plants.
Scientific—biodiversity represents a wealth of systematic
JAYAKRISHNA
Threats to Biodiversity
Biodiversity is under serious threat as a result of human
activities. The main dangers worldwide are population
growth and resource consumption, climate change and

S
global warming, habitat conversion and urbanisation,

IA
invasive alien species, over-exploitation of natural
resources and environmental degradation.
R A
IQ

JAYAKRISHNA
Threats in terrestrial areas
Degradation, destruction and
fragmentation of natural habitats
Decrease in the capacity of the
agricultural areas to host wildlife
Pollution of soils, air and water
R
IQ
Invasions by alien species
Epidemics affecting wildlife
Spread of the urbanised areas, road network and
industrial areas  and associated problems (noise,
pollution); abandon of former agricultural
practices that were favourable to biodiversity
S
Intensification of agricultural practices (yielding
pollution and disturbance) and disappearance of
IA
landscape elements that provide food and shelter
that are exploitable by wildlife (such as hedges,
trees, ponds, etc.)
A
Excess of heavy metals (industry, roads), manure
and pesticides (agriculture) and other pollutants 
International trade and transport (roads, railways,
rivers), gardening practices, exotic trees in
forestry, exotic pests released in the wild, climate
change, etc.
Arrivals of pathogens that are favoured by the
introduction of exotic species, pollution and the
destruction of habitats
JAYAKRISHNA

Climate change
Desiccation of soils and wetlands
Recreation and leisure
Threats in marine areas
Overfishing and decline of species
Pollution and eutrophication
A
R
Degradation and destruction of the sea floor Beam trawling, dredging, sand and gravel extraction
IQ
Alien species introductions
Leisure and tourism  mechanical beach cleaning, noise and other perturbations due to
Carbon emissions, deforestation and other land use changes due to
human activities
Excess pumping of underground water tables
Overuse of green open spaces and wild areas, little respect for
nature, mountain biking and motor sports in fragile areas, dogs not
S
on leash
IA
Industrial fishing, overexploitation of target species, by-catch
species
Land-based activities (river run-off), atmospheric deposition,
maritime traffic
Maritime trade (ballast waters, fouling), leisure navigation,
mariculture, climate change
Coastal development, water quality in summer (high population),
JAYAKRISHNA
the high population
 S
IA
AR
IQ

JAYAKRISHNA
Conservation of Biodiversity
The process of conservation of biodiversity involves sustainable development. It also
involves the in situ conservation where conserving and protecting the ecosystem will protect
the entire biodiversity.
At the same time, it includes ex-situ conservation which involves conservation measures

S
when an organism is endangered. Therefore, this means that the conservation methods of

IA
biodiversity aim at preservation, maintenance, recovery, and enhancement of the species
population.

R A
IQ

JAYAKRISHNA
 COMPARISON WILDLIFE SANCTUARY NATIONAL PARK
Meaning Wildlife Sanctuary, is a natural National park is the
habitat, established by the protected area, which are
government to protect a established by the
particular species of birds and government, to conserve
animals. wildlife

S
Preserves Animals, birds, insects, reptiles, Flora, fauna, landscape,
etc. historic objects, etc.

IA
Objective To make sure that viable
population of the wildlife and
their habitats are maintained.
Restriction Restrictions are less and it is open
To protect the natural and
historic objects and wildlife
of an area.
Highly restricted, random

A
to public. access to people is not
allowed.
Official Permission
R
Not required Required
IQ
Boundaries Not fixed Fixed by legislation
Human activity Allowed but up to a certain Not allowed at all.
IUCN Status extent. Category II
Category IV of Protected area

JAYAKRISHNA
 Important
National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand • Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary,
• Ranthambore National Park, Odisha
Rajasthan

S
• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
• Bandipur National Park, Karnataka • Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary,

IA
• Keoladeo Ghana National Park – Karnataka
Bharatpur, Rajasthan
• Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary,
• Sariska National Park, Rajasthan
Gujarat
• Kaziranga National Park, Assam
• Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary,

A
• Kanha National Park, Madhya
Kerala.
Pradesh
• Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary,
•
R
Sundarbans National Park, West
Bengal Gujarat.
• • Mudhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary,
IQ
Gir National Park
• Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh Tamilnadu.
• The Great Himalayan National Park, • Parambikulam Willife Sanctuary,
Himachal Pradesh Kerala.

JAYAKRISHNA
Biosphere Reserves
The biosphere is simply the home of all known life that has ever
existed in the entire universe. In the early 1970s, the United
Nations established a project called Man and the Biosphere

S
Programme (MAB), which promotes sustainable development.
The first biosphere reserve was established in Yangambi,

IA
Democratic Republic of Congo.
Functions of Biosphere

A
Conservation of Biodiversity – to contribute to the conservation of
landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation.
R
Sustainable Development – to foster economic and human
development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable.
IQ
Support for Logistics – to provide support for research, monitoring,
education and information exchange related to local, national and
global issues of conservation and development.
JAYAKRISHNA
Structure of Biosphere

S
IA
R A
IQ

JAYAKRISHNA
 S.  Date of
Name  Area (in km2) Location (State)
No.0 Notification

5520 Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and

1 Nilgiri 01.09.1986 (Core 1240 & Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani hills
Buffer 4280)  (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka).

S
5860.69

IA
(Core 712.12,
Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar
2 Nanda Devi  18.01.1988 Buffer 5,148.5
districts (Uttarakhand). 
70) & T.
546.34)

820

A
(Core 47.48 &
3 Nokrek  01.09.1988 Buffer 227.92, Part of Garo hills (Meghalaya).
Transition
R Zone 544.60)
IQ
885 (Core 705 Southern most islands of Andaman And Nicobar
4 Great Nicobar  06.01.1989
& Buffer 180) (A&N Islands). 

10,500 km2
Total Gulf
area Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri
5 Gulf of Mannar 18.02.1989
(area of Lanka (Tamil Nadu).
Islands 5.55 k
JAYAKRISHNA
m2) 
 Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon,
2837
6 Manas 14.03.1989 Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and
(Core 391 & Buffer 2,446)
Darang districts (Assam) 

Part of delta of Ganges and

9630
7 Sunderbans 29.03.1989 Brahamaputra river system 

S
(Core 1700 & Buffer  7900)
(West Bengal). 

IA
4374
8 Simlipal 21.06.1994 (Core 845, Buffer 2129 & Part of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa).  
Transition 1400

A
765  Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia
9 Dibru-Saikhowa 28.07.1997
R (Core 340 & Buffer 425) Districts (Assam)

5111.50
Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in
10 Dehang-Dibang 02.09.1998 (Core 4094.80 &Buffer
IQ
Arunachal Pradesh. 
1016.70)

Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad and

11 Pachmarhi 03.03.1999 4926 Chindwara districts of Madhya
Pradesh. 
2619.92
Khangchendzon Parts of Khangchendzonga hills and
12 07.02.2000 (Core 1819.34 & Buffer
ga  Sikkim.
835.92)JAYAKRISHNA
 Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney  Wildlife
13 Agasthyamalai 12.11.2001 1828 Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas in
Kerala.

3835.51 
Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori districts
Achanakamar -    (Core 551.55 &
14 30.3.2005 of M.P. and parts of Bilaspur districts of

S
Amarkantak Buffer 
Chhattishgarh State.
3283.86)

IA
Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar and
15 Kachchh 29.01.2008 12,454 km2
Patan Civil Districts of Gujarat State

16 Cold Desert
R 28.08.2009

A7770
Pin Valley National Park and surroundings;
Chandratal and Sarchu&Kibber
Sancturary in Himachal Pradesh
Wildlife
IQ
Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of
17 Seshachalam Hills 20.09.2010 4755.997 Chittoor and Kadapa districts of Andhra
Pradesh

Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in

18 Panna 25.08.2011 2998.98
Madhya Pradesh
JAYAKRISHNA
Conservation and Community Reserves
Conservation reserves and community reserves in India are terms denoting
protected areas of India which typically act as buffer zones to or connectors and
migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and

S
reserved and protected forests of India.
 

IA
 
Such areas are designated as conservation areas if they are uninhabited and
completely owned by the Government of India but used for subsistence by

A
communities and community areas if part of the lands are privately owned.
  R
These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection)
Amendment Act of 2002 − the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
IQ
 
These categories were added because of reduced protection in and around existing
or proposed protected areas due to private ownership of land, and land use

JAYAKRISHNA
Forest Survey Report 2019
The Total Forest cover of the country as per the2019 survey report is 21.67% of the total
geographical area of the country. The three important varieties of Forest according to the
report are
1. Very Dense Forest – 3.02%
2. Moderately Dense Forest – 9.39%

S
3. Open Forest – 9.26%
The two types Very Dense Forest and Moderately Dense Forest occupy 57% of the forest

IA
cover in India.
Reserved Forest and Protected Forest:
Reserved Forests
These forests are under the direct supervision of the government and no public entry is

A
allowed for collection of timber or grazing of cattle.
Protected Forests
R
These forests are looked after by the government, but the local people are allowed to collect
fuel-wood/timber and graze their cattle without causing serious damage to the forests.
IQ
Village Forest or Communal Forest
Communal Forest also called as village forest which is governed by local communities and
used for Medicinal plantation, recreation and religious purposes. If the Village forests are
maintained by the Panchayats such forest is called Panchayat forest. Maharashtra and North
East Indian states have most of the forest communal forest land, where local people are
managing forest for biodiversity.
JAYAKRISHNA